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Rockstar to Use NaturalMotion Technology in Upcoming Games

Posted by Zonk on from the feeling-euphoric dept.

CVG reports that future Rockstar titles will feature NaturalMotion technologies in an effort to make the games more realistic. Specifically, Rockstar will be licensing the 'Euphoria' engine, an advanced physics and substance simulation model already in use in several upcoming LucasArts titles. There's no word in the article on which games will feature the technology, but this certainly seems like something that would fit well with the sandbox style games of the GTA series. " Employed in the recently revealed The Force Unleashed, euphoria simulates the human body and motor nervous system. It means that in-game characters are fully interactive and always react differently to external influences, ultimately leading to a more life-like experience for the player. Specific reference to how euphoria 'uses the processing power of PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360' to simluate the human body and motor nervous system was made in the announcement. While Rockstar is yet to name games using euphoria, its integration of the tech is well advanced."

13 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. good news! by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    CVG reports that future Rockstar titles will feature NaturalMotion technologies in an effort to make the games more realistic.

    That's great news. Because peoples' main complaint with RockStar games is that the movements aren't realistic enough.

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    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:good news! by mobby_6kl · · Score: 4, Funny

      I always thought that the hookers reacted unrealistically to being hit with a baseball bat. Hopefully they'll use this new tech in GTA IV so I can experience it as the real thing.

    2. Re:good news! by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I assumed at first that they were referring to the control interface and using the Sixaxis controller's motion sensing ability. Which on the one hand would be good, get a more immersive experience by bludgeoning hookers. But then I remembered that this is Rockstar, the guys who came up with the control scheme in GTA, so "natural" would be the last term applied to it. They'd have you jerking the controller up and down to shoot your weapon while on foot, but you'd have to spin it around your head to do the same thing while driving, unless it was a motorcycle and then spinning it around your head would make you pop wheelies.

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  2. Sweet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    GTA5 sex unlocks + naturalmotion = instant puberty.

  3. finally by mastershake_phd · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now I can see what its really like to run someone ever with a SUV. Jack Thompsons going to love this.

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    1. Re:finally by SheeEttin · · Score: 2, Funny

      Seriously, who uses an SUV? Get a frickin' BUS or something!

    2. Re:finally by the-amazing-blob · · Score: 2, Informative

      Slow-accelerating vehicles are a bad choice when running from the cops. I've been arrested many times in my tank this way. I avoid the military stuff, and a standard cop runs up and gets me right after I run over a few trucks.

    3. Re:finally by ampathee · · Score: 2, Informative

      In a tank, cops can't touch you if you just keep moving. They pretty much explode on contact - great fun.

  4. Well.... by ardor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I just hope this guy does not kill off NaturalMotion with his overly broad patents.

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    1. Re:Well.... by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 3, Interesting

      They really have got a broad patent.
      The first one has a mistake:

      Anti-slip control for a legged robot and realisitc simulation of a legged creature

      does this make it invalid?

      from here: http://animats.com/topics/patents.html

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  5. About Time by MBCook · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's about time people start using this kind of stuff. I know it's very CPU intensive so it is only now becoming more viable in a game. Still I would prefer this kind of technology and DreamCast or even PS1 quality graphics over the stuff the 360 and PS3 can make without this technology. I've seen videos and game-play of the recent Madden games and while they often look stunning, they still have these errors. Feet "pop" or "slide" as the mo-cap doesn't match up to exactly what's happening.

    While this can be a little blip in these games, in other games (say an adventure game) it can be very obvious that these problems are going on and somewhat distracting.

    All I ask from "next-gen" is foot-planting. They can be more than just more poly's and shiny effects.

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    1. Re:About Time by cno3 · · Score: 2, Informative

      EA claims that they're working on foot planting and other realism-enhancing animations. I think there's videos online from their E3 presentation, and while it looks good, I'm still less than convinced of their ability to pull it all off in-game.

  6. Re:Speaking of Euphoria by feepness · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please stop inappropriate prosthetising in the name of my God.

    Yes, no more artificial limbs in the name of God, thanks.